A parish Slava is like a second Pascha, a day of joy and soaring exaltation.  The hearts of the faithful parishioners of St. John the Wonderworker, took to flight this year on the 5th of July when they were joined in their Slava festivities by His Grace Bishop Maxim.  The celebration of the Slava began with Great Vespers with Lity served on Friday the eve of the Feast.  His Grace, having flown into Portland, was picked up by Subdeacon Bilyan Belchev and driven to Eugene, arriving after Vespers.  Vladyka was welcomed to Eugene by the Kleshchev family, who warmly received His Grace into their home with a lovely dinner attended by the senior clergy of St. John’s.

The next morning the Bishop was received by the parish rector Father John Suvak, along with other local priests: Archpriest James Baglien from St. Martin’s ROCOR Parish as well as Father Nikita Toran from an Old Rite ROCOR parish in Woodburn.  The priests were joined by Protodeacon Stephen Dyer, Subdeacon Bilyan Belchev, and other junior clergymen from the two Russian parishes.  The joy of the day was swelled by a large crowd, the parishioners of St. John’s being joined by believers from other local parishes filling up the nave.  Before the Small Entrance, Vladyka sitting upon his hierarchical throne, guided the parish children who were surrounding him as they soared together through the meaning of the Liturgy unfolding before them.  His Grace homilized on the pericope of John’s Gospel dedicated to Holy Hierarchs (John 10:9-16).  He noted that within the Liturgy there are several instances where men find themselves standing before God’s judgement in anticipation of the final eschatological judgment.  One of these moments takes place as the Gospel is being read.  As the words of Christ are recited, those who listen are immediately measured by the content of what they hear.  Have they fulfilled what is being spoken or not?  His Grace went on to say that St. John of San Francisco had mounted up to the heights of Christ’s heavenly words.  He had lived as a true shepherd, offering every moment of his life in service to Christ.  St. John’s ministry had its beginning and end in the divine Eucharist.  All of this serves as inspiration for us and our own ascending journey to fulfill in ourselves the words of the Gospel.  This beautiful synaxis ended with Vladyka cutting the Slava Kolach and with the dismissal of the Liturgy, the people and their shepherd processed outside for the agape meal served in the backyard.

It proved to be a perfect day for a parish feast, the weather being cool and the shade being plentiful; the Orthodox people of central Oregon rejoiced in each other’s company.  Despite the beautiful blue sky above, the children were waiting with anticipation to see if space around the Bishop’s table would rain candy.  They were not disappointed.  Not only did candy fall on them in torrents, but His Grace offered them small Icons, prayer ropes, and other meaningful gifts.  When the time came for the Bishop to take his leave from the feast, the experiences of the day were not over.  The Church President, Sean Parrish, a flight instructor by trade, had arranged to take His Grace up in a small aircraft for a scenic flight around the surrounding countryside.  Thus ended a glorious day of many ascents: up to the Altar of the Lord, the rising joy in the hearts of those in close fellowship, and finally a flight touching the sky among the clouds and mountains of Eugene.

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